biittner77

Pierre's season thus far .271avg.--- .318obp---.357slg The only good thing to say about that is his CS is only 7 out of 35. I'd rather stick with Hairston, play Gerut or bring back Patterson all of whom could provide equal or better production.

I'm not positive but I think I can answer these questions: Patterson did not have enough service time so his assignment was not optional in the sense that he didn't have the right to refuse. Patterson would not have to clear waivers to be recalled regardless of when that happens. The Cubs can keep Patterson at AAA the rest of the season without having to expose him to waivers. If the Cubs recalled Patterson and then tried to send him down again after JUly 31 then he would have to clear waivers again- an extremely unlikely event.

I wish Hollandsworth was as good as Larry Biittner.

Those of you that play golf and have a less than perfect swing know the difference between practice and real competition. It's a lot easier to get in a rhythm during practice but hard to trust that new method when it counts. AAA games don't really count so it's easier for the Cubs to turn Patterson into Bret Butler there as opposed to Chicago. I just hope that once they turn him into a slap hitter they can find Jim Frey to turn him into Ryne Sandberg.

I'd say less talent. Without a doubt. I'm not so sure. It's been a while since I saw Adams. Farnsworth has a better fastball but not by much. Adams had better command and was a lot steadier whereas Farnsworth has been either dominant or horrible. Maybe Farnsworth has more raw talent but Adams made better use of what he had.

The argument for Dawson as HOF material 1. only person with 300 HRs and 300 Stolen bases that's not in the HOF or named Barry Bonds. The other 2 being Mays and Bobby Bonds- that's pretty select company. 2. injuries cut his career short He's borderline but his numbers are pretty comparable to Tony Perez (if memory serves) minus the WS rings. I wasn't saying that Dawson doesn't belong, he has a case. But to write that Dawson does belong in the Hall in the same article where you say Raffy doesn't is ridiculous. I didn't think that you thought Dawson didn't belong. I was just poiinting out how thin the argument is for Dawson and the irony that Bayless is saying the HOF is watered down and is using Dawson an example. I can't envision a time when 3,000 hits doesn't get a player into the HOVG.

Thanks, Terry Adams: more or less talent than Fransworth?

Dennis Eckersley said that his drinking problems were much worse when he played for the Cubs because of the day games. If the reports of Farnsworth's active night life were true perhaps that's been a factor in his success. The biggest factor, howver, has been use patterns. It appears the Tigers haven't been using him on 3 days in a row as much as Baker did. Who was that other hard throwing RH the Cubs had a couple years ago? He was supposed to be the closer of the future but never could adjust to the role. I think the Cubs traded him to the Phillies and he pitched for the Dodgers.

The argument for Dawson as HOF material 1. only person with 300 HRs and 300 Stolen bases that's not in the HOF or named Barry Bonds. The other 2 being Mays and Bobby Bonds- that's pretty select company. 2. injuries cut his career short He's borderline but his numbers are pretty comparable to Tony Perez (if memory serves) minus the WS rings.

He has not agreed to further cooperation. See http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/bal-balco715,1,6776528.story "Conte said he would not be required to assist in the prosecution of anyone else involved in the investigation." Thus, Barry is probably safe since he admitted to receiving packages and using them, but not to knowing what they contained. Prosecution would probably require Conte's help and testimony that he spoke to Barry and Barry understood they were steroids. If the Plea is approved, he will not be required to testify.... I don't think Barry is safe. Your link surprised me because SportsCenter said he would cooperate. At the same time, Conte has lied so much during the course of this thing, I don't really listen to what he says in the press. Feds don't just give out sweetheart deals and help people serve their sentences on home detention. Conte's attorneys have spoken about the deal... See http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0507150245jul15,1,6326810.story The deal does not require Conte to cooperate with federal agents in their investigation, his attorneys said.... The reason I think Bonds is safe is that 1) the Feds were really after Balco for fraud. Steroids was an aside that popped up during the investigation. Even though they are illegal, Balco is not the first to ever distribute them and get a light sentence for it... and 2) Conte's testimony would be essential for going after Bonds, without it, the case is pretty much dead. If the Feds wanted to pursue the steroids are illegal angle with Bonds without Conte's cooperation, they would have indicted Bonds months ago. With all the noise they've made about steroids I'd think the government would want to go after Bonds pretty hard. Unless all that cleaning up baseball stuff was pure political grandstanding. It seems like they could get Bonds for perjury if they lean on the trainer. They make an example out of Bonds and they'll be able to say they did something.

Patterson sent down. Pie hurt Greenberg hurt Dwayne Bacon hurt What's with Cubs' CF this year?

Yes, it is a tragedy worthy of Shakespear I was thinking more along the lines of The Great Escape. Every time I watch it I hope Steve McQueen justs pulls out a pair of wire clippers, cuts his way through the fence and makes his way into Switzerland. But he always tried to jump the fence and gets caught. Every single time.

Steroids are illegal. Giambi it seems would be subject for whatever the penalty is for using a controlled substance. Sheffield has always said he didn't know. His story seems more believable than Bonds'.

It's really hard to give Dusty the benefit of the doubt and assume this is only a blip. I don't think I have to apologize for thinking Dusty will bench Murton and play Hollandsworth far too often. Baker has already said that Murton is going to platoon with Hollandsworth. This is for Murton's own good, says Baker, to protect him from tough RH pitchers and not damage his confidence. Seems to me we've seen this movie enough times now to know how it's going to end.

How long before he's a Boisie Hawk?

You're too young.

The Cubs cutting payroll might not be as bad as it sounds. Really what they'd be doing is replacing expensive vets with cheap young guys. As far as FAs go its a pretty lean year once the AJ Burnett sweepstakes are over. So if 2007 looks to be a better FA class then it makes sense for the Cubs to start the year with Murton or Dubois in LF. If they falter then a deal will be easier to reach. All the better if they succeed. That's better than throwing a bunch of money at a player that doesn't warrant it.

The Yanks have cut Quantrill, Karsay, and Stanton recently. Gordon's their 8th inning guy right now, I doubt they move him unless overwhelmed. You have a point, but if they trade for Chacon, couldn't they use him out of the pen? Also, they should be getting Rodriguez back for the pen soon. Weren't they about to DFA him right before he got hurt? No that it matter as the Yankees don't really have anything that fits the Cubs needs unless Sierra could still play LF. Hendry has said that he's not after a rental so any trade would have to be for kids that Dusty won't play or involve a 3rd team.

It's the AL. After the first inning it doesn't really matter who led off. Mazzilli was probably trying to give Sosa some protection. Either that or someone reminded him that his name backwards is illizam and, realizing that his name sounds better backwards than it does forwards, blew his mind.

true. the only reason i bring this up is because Felix was going to be called up if he didn't get hurt in the first place. That being said, i think he'll be the next guy they call up once he is 100% healthy. That was the plan, I suppose but the situation is different. By the time Pie is healthy Patterson might have shown enough at AAA to get recalled. If Murton hits it will be hard to justify not playing him. The there's Dubois in the mix. He'll no doubt destroy AAA pitching (like going 3-4 tonight) and perhaps be a better option to rot the bench instead of Pie. Baker has already said that he doesn't want to play Hairston in LF. So Baker either disrupts the lineup that has won 4 straight or he keeps Pie- a rookie that he doesn't want to play anyway- down on the farm.

I didn't see him on the list of rule 5 players. Is that an omission or is he still not eligible? Not that anyone is likely to draft him, merely curious. Can Montanez play CF? He doesn't seem like he has enough power to play a corner OF. If he could play an acceptable CF that would increase his value as a 4th OF.

I'm not sure how they could justify benching Hairston for Pie at this point. They really need to keep Pie where he is until they are definitely going to play him full time.

Yes, the Cubs expected Grace to develop more power which of course he never did. The real blame for this trade falls on Jim Frey and his disasterous tenure as GM. If he hadn't run Lee Smith out of town he wouldn't have needed to trade Moyer and Palmeiro for a closer and some role players. Maybe he still winds up trading him anyway due to the Sandberg drama but he could have gotten a better deal.

I thought he was decent in 2003. Light years better than McCarver. I guess I shouldn't blame him for cheering openly for his former team. It wasn't as annoying until game 6. I blame Fox for putting him in that position in the first place. In fact, didn't Fox also have Bret Boone doing the Yankees series with his brother Aaron playing for the Yankees? Seems like they should have switched the two for the sake of objectivity. Meanwhile, Lieter will have to get in the forgiveness line behind Steve Garvey and Will Clark.

I see the conversation going something like this: Hendry "Nomar, we want you back, we'll give you $2 million plus incentives worth another $8 million based on PAs and games started etc." Nomar "Jim, aren't you the guy that gave Alphonseca $4 million? There's no way I can sign for less than that. It would be embarassing." Hendry (sighs) "oh alright."